The greatest volume of traffic observed on the entry and exit routes to the city is the primary contributor to noise pollution in the municipality of Santa Cruz, resulting in an increase in “the number of individuals affected by noise levels that surpass acceptable acoustic quality values in residential areas.” This is highlighted in the findings of the study on the Noise and Acoustic Zoning map of the capital, a comprehensive document that was released yesterday in the Official Gazette of the Province (BOP) after undergoing the public exhibition process.
In this investigation, the traffic noise index, which has been assessed through various monitoring stations spread across the municipality, and for a resident population at a height of 4 metres, sets the limits for the residential acoustic zone between 65 and 55 decibels (db). These levels are reportedly exceeded by up to 5 db beyond the acoustic quality objectives, reaching values of as much as 70 db during both daytime and evening hours.
According to the analysis conducted by the company Virocem, noise levels affect 38,400 individuals aged under 55 for a full 24-hour period; 29,000 residents aged between 55 and 60; 46,300 individuals aged between 65 and 70; 65 individuals aged between 70 and 75; and 45 over the age of 75, all residing along the primary road traffic routes within the capital.
Additionally, the report outlines the types of environmental noise sources that have been considered, highlighting road traffic, railway (tram) transit, and industrial activities as major contributors impacting the acoustic quality for the resident population.
To evaluate these levels, the study has factored in data concerning the inhabitants exposed to environmental noise in Santa Cruz (which had a population exceeding 208,700 in 2021), where the highest density area is found in the La Salle Health district, followed by Centro-Ifara and Ofra-Costa Sur. Furthermore, data from the strategic noise map has been included, representing noise from the various sources considered, as well as indices—according to timeframes—of noise pollution at four metres above ground level.
In this context, the aim of the noise map, sanctioned by the Santa Cruz City Council through the Environmental Sustainability department, is to implement corrective measures to alleviate the situation via action plans addressing noise pollution in order to enhance the urban environment.
Noise maps are a tool provided for under the Environmental Noise Directive and are designed to furnish uniform information regarding the levels of noise pollution across various regions.
